BANGKOK (AP) After consuming poisoned beer in Laos, two Australian adolescents and a British woman perished from what was believed to be methanol poisoning. The precise causes of death for two Danes and one American guy have not yet been made public. A person from New Zealand has also been ill. Travelers should be aware of the possibility of methanol poisoning, the U.S. State Department warned. However, what is methanol and how may it be avoided?
Methanol: What is it?
Alcohol comes in three primary forms: isopropyl, methanol, and ethanol. Consumer spirits contain simply ethanol, which is meant for human consumption. The primary component of hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol is isopropanol. Because it is a result of wood distillation, methanol is also known as wood alcohol. It is widely utilized as fuel and in products like solvents and antifreeze.
What occurs if methanol is consumed?
Drinking merely 25 to 90 milliliters (0.7 to 3.0 ounces) of methanol can be lethal without the right medical attention, but it can be effectively treated if detected early, according to the Methanol Institute, the international trade body for the industry.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, methanol poisoning can result in headaches, lightheadedness, and a number of other symptoms, such as coma, seizures, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. In the event that methanol poisoning is suspected, the CDC advises getting medical help right away.
According to toxicologist Alastair Hay of Britain’s University of Leeds, people react differently to methanol. Since everyone has a different enzyme capability for detoxification, some people will be able to tolerate more than others. However, some people may die from modest amounts, while others may live a little longer.
If it isn’t intended for consumption, why would it be in drinks?
Sometimes, dishonest establishments willfully add methanol to mixed drinks to give them more kick and to cut costs by not using more expensive ethanol-based spirits like vodka or rum. According to the Methanol Institute, this behavior is not unique to Laos or Southeast Asia; rather, it happens when taxes on legal alcohol are thought to be excessively expensive.
Methanol is also a typical byproduct of the distillation process that yields ethanol, and it may find its way into the mixture in home-brew distilleries that lack stringent regulations, which are frequently found in developing nations.
How can methanol poisoning be prevented?
The simple solution is to avoid drinking it.
However, because it is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, that can be difficult.
Following the Laos poisonings, the British Foreign Office issued guidelines that advise only buying alcoholic beverages from licensed liquor stores, only drinking from hotels and bars that have been licensed, always making sure that bottle seals are intact, and looking for poor print quality or misspelled words on labels.
Beverages including canned beer, cider, wine, pre-mix, and duty-free goods are generally safer and more difficult to tamper with, according to the Methanol Institute.
Additionally, it cautions against homemade brews, complimentary drinks, and drinks that are significantly less expensive than usual.
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This story was written by Jerry Harmer, a journalist for the Associated Press.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
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